Walking along the dairy aisle, you can find numerous types of milk packaging: glass and plastic bottles, and then paper cartons. What should we put in the cart? It turns out that the method of storage can significantly impact not only its freshness but also its taste.
Why Not Buy Milk in a Carton? Don’t Expect Long Freshness in This Case
Scientists from North Carolina State University made a surprising discovery. A study led by Dr. MaryAnne Drake, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, indicated that carton packaging does not maintain the freshness and taste as effectively as glass and plastic. "Milk is more susceptible to absorbing odors, including those from packaging, than most other beverages due to its mild, delicate taste. Besides slight oxidation, the taste of this product can change as a result of absorbing compounds from the packaging and the penetration, even through the carton, of food aromas from the surrounding refrigeration environment," summarized Dr. Drake.
Is It Better to Buy Milk in Glass Bottles? Experts Have No Doubts
The expert team examined pasteurized whole and skim milk stored in six containers:
- cardboard cartons,
- three plastic jugs (made from different types of plastics),
- a plastic bag,
- glass - as the control.
To quantitatively analyze the packaging's impact on taste, the milk was stored in complete darkness to control oxidation and kept at a low temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. For 15 days, researchers subjected the samples to sensory analysis, considering the mixing of molecules from the packaging with the drink. In the final phase of the tests, the samples were subjected to a blind taste test by consumers.
The scientists came to surprising conclusions. It turned out that glass packaging is the best container for preserving the freshness and taste of milk. However, plastic is not far behind, provided its exposure to sunlight is limited.
